Pit Bull Tires has teamed up with High Point Hummer & ATV to host a Trail Run on Thursday May 13, 2010 during the week-long Rally.  Anyone interested please RSVP Scott McFarland at Scott@highpointhummer.com or please call High Point Hummer 1-877-486-6833.

We plan to meet at 8am at the Spanish Trail Arena and from there we will have a police escort to the Moab Rim Trail.

Hot Dogs and Burgers to follow the run.

Be there or B [   ]

High Point Hummer

281 N. Main
Moab, Utah 84532

1-877-486-6833  
info@highpointhummer.com

“I am hoping that Elko County residents will consider taking time out of their hectic summer schedules to visit some of their favorite off-highway vehicle areas with us,” said Tom Montoya, Mountain City District Ranger. Montoya said that field trip conversations provide a great opportunity to learn more about the current Travel Management process, and all sides of the issues and concerns involved with designation of a travel management system.

Follow the link to read the rest of the article: http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1029 or discuss this with the Blue Ribbon Coalilation here: http://www.prowlerforums.net/forums/public-lands-advocacy/330-forest-service-host-summer-field-trips-travel-management.html

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our vendors and other contributors for their sponsorship, without your participation this endeavor would not have been possible.

The UTVForums.net recognizes that our sport is under constant threat and we are highly motivated to assist our members and supporters in the pursuit of their business and recreational activities.

The BlueRibbon Coalition champions responsible use of public lands and waters for the benefit of all recreationists by educating and empowering its members. They are recognized by the general public, media, and elected officials as the leader in promoting common sense and an equitable approach to recreation and access issues.

As part of this new partnership, all subscribers of the UTVForums.net including subsidiary forums are eligible for the BlueRibbon’s discounted incentive “Associate Membership” program. Subscribers can join BRC and help strengthen this grassroots organization at half price for the first year ($15 to join) . . . BlueRibbon Coalition – Become an Associate Member. The UTVForums.net supports and believes in the BRCs efforts on behalf of our sport and encourages its members to join up and get in the game!

Learn more about saving trails and keeping our sport alive. Please visit the BlueRibbon Coalition home page at BlueRibbon Coalition: Preserving your recreational access to public lands. to familiarize yourself with their efforts.

The UTV Forums network includes: RhinoForums.net, RZRForums.net, TeryxForums.net, ProwlerForums.net, RedlineUTVForums.net, BigRedForums.com

Visit BlueRibbon Coalition at http://www.sharetrails.org/

__________________
Please Become a Member of National Organizations like the BlueRibbon Coalition, Tread Lightly, or United Four Wheel Drive Associations and Help Preserve Access to YOUR Public Lands!

While the BLM has established numerous multi-use trails in the Glade, intended for hiking, horseback riding and biking, only a small fraction of the Glade paths permit ATV use. As ATVs have become an increasingly popular hobby in the Farmington area, riders have found limited trail-ways and often have turned onto bike paths or begun making new tracks.

The BLM hopes the large new trail will reduce the number of four-wheeled vehicles traveling on trails currently designated only for bicycles and motorbikes. Users of the Glade Run single-track trail have expressed concern that ATV use of the smaller route is widening the narrow pathway and damaging the condition of the trail.

Archeological and environmental surveys must be conducted on the proposed route before the trail can formally be designated for use by traditional ATVs and the wider ATVs known as Side by Sides.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) will be released for comment and available on their website at http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/Farmington_Field_Office.html, later in the year. For more information, contact Rich Simmons, Recreation and Wilderness Specialist, at (505) 599-8900

Utility Type Vehicles can only be operated on designated trails:

• Easiest Trails (Green) – Approved.
• More Difficult Trails (Blue) – Approved
• Most Difficult Trails (Black) – Not approved.
• Extreme Difficult Trails (Red Black) – Not approved.

• Signage and Maps – Every intersection will be labeled with a sticker approving or disapproving each trail. Most difficult and extreme difficult trails will receive an 18×24 metal sign located at each intersection. This sign will have a UTV with a line through it and state NO SIDE BY SIDE/UTV’S ALLOWED. Violators subject to $100.00 fine and impoundment of machine.

Machine Requirements

1. Machines may not be self constructed or substantially modified from manufacturer’s specifications in the sole opinion of the Executive Director or his designee.

2. Units must be equipped with a steering wheel from the manufacturer.

3. Units must be equipped with ROPS (Roll-Over Protection System) from the manufacturer.

4. Machines must be equipped with manufacturer seat belts and must be in good working order.

5. Low pressure tires required – Max 20PSI at manufacturer’s recommended inflation.

6. No machines above 855cc or 61HP allowed.

UTV Specific Rules

1. The number of passengers carried on a side by side – utility type vehicle shall be limited by the number of manufacturer installed seat belts.

2. All participants must abide by all of the manufacturer’s requirements regarding the age and size of operators and passengers. In addition, regardless of the manufacturer’s requirements, all passengers under the age of 16 must be able to reach grab bars and be able to place both feet on the floorboard seated upright with their back against the seatback. All operators of side by side – utility type vehicles must be at least sixteen (16) years of age or older.

3. Any operator of a side by side – utility type vehicle must possess a valid driver’s license.

4. The driver and passengers of a side by side – utility type vehicle must:
• Wear seat belts at all times;
• Keep their hands, arms, feet, head and legs inside the vehicle at all times during operation;
• Wear a DOT or Snell approved helmet; and
• Wear eye protection at all times

For more information or to plan a trip use the contact information below:
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Browning Fork Trailhouse, Hatfield McCoy Trails, lbucha8150@aol.com

The decision was reached after a recent field test of the RZR on the Monday Creek ATV Trail System near Nelsonville. Forest staff, representatives from American Motorcycle Association (AMA) and All-terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA), Polaris Industries, and other local ATV partners tested the vehicle.

Results from the field test found the RZR to have similar maneuverability on the trails as any traditional 50-inch wide ATV. It should be noted that because of the tight bridge width clearance of many of the Wayne’s trail bridges, riders should take extra precautions and “square up” the vehicle before crossing.

The public is allowed to use any ATV on the Forest’s designated motorized trail system as long as the vehicle complies with the maximum 50-inch width limit. The RZR is exactly 50-inch wide if equipped with stocked tires. However, a change to the tires or adding any after-market accessories that causes the vehicle to be wider than 50 inches is not allowed.

The Wayne’s trail system will be open for riding on Wednesday, April 15th. The Forest reminds riders to register their vehicle with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and purchase a Wayne Trail Permit before riding the trails. Trail permits may be purchased at the Wayne National Forest Headquarter near Nelsonville, Ohio, at Forest Ranger District offices, or any of the 26 participating vendor locations. For a list of vendor locations, visit the Forest’s web site.

Wayne National Forest offers 121 miles of designated motorized trail system on the Athens & Ironton Ranger District. There are no designated motorized trails on the Forest’s Marietta Unit. Annually, more than 40,000 visitors experience the Forest trails.

For more information about recreation opportunities on the Wayne National Forest, visit the Forest’s web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/wayne/rec.html or contact the following Forest District Offices: Athens – (740) 753-0101; Marietta – (740) 373-9055; Ironton – (740) 534-6500.

[Source: http://blackhillsportal.com/npps/story.cfm?id=2973] By Gary C. Chancey, Public Affairs Officer (740) 753-0862,

The trend continues a four-year climb that has seen annual permit revenue increase 39.1 percent, leading to a record net income in 2008 of $926,095. The turnaround is especially dramatic considering net income actually dropped to $40,739 in 2006.

While cautioning that it’s still early, and the overall numbers are small, Lusk said permit revenue had risen from $62,301 in the first 70 days of 2008 to $77,580 in 2009, a 25 percent increase.

“We experienced a record year in 2008, with permit revenue of more than $1 million, a 21 percent increase from 2007,” Lusk said. Not only was it an increase from 2007, but it was more than $100,000 above what had been expected.

The 2008 increase in revenue occurred despite a nearly 37 percent drop in the permit price for out-of-state residents – from $79 to $50. (Prices remain the same in 2009: $26.50 for West Virginia residents, $50 for out-of-state residents.)

Lusk attributes the improved performance to two factors: increased marketing and the vacation value offered by the Trails in difficult economic times.

“I think we’re a bargain,” he said. “For $50, $26.50 for West Virginians, we offer unlimited access for an entire year to more than 500 miles of trails. You can’t beat that.

“This is probably one of the best vacation bargains in the eastern United States,” he said.

Hatfield-McCoy also has become more aggressive in marketing and telling its story around the country to off-road enthusiasts, he said.

“We didn’t do anything differently in 2007 except increase marketing,” he said, “and we still had a record year despite the lower permit price.”

The Hatfield-McCoy Trails was created by the West Virginia Legislature to generate economic development through tourism in nine southern West Virginia counties. The system comprises more than 500 miles of off-road trails in six systems scattered over southern West Virginia, each of which is open 365 days a year to ATVs, dirt bikes, select utility vehicles (UTVs), mountain bikes, horses, and hikers. Many of the trail systems also offer community connecting trails that allow visitors to access “ATV-friendly towns.”

Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreational Authority Selected financial data, 2005-2008

The bill — Senate Bill 22: The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 — failed to get the required two-thirds vote of the House members for approval. The vote was 282 yes to 144 no, with six lawmakers abstaining.

The bill had raised the ire of the AMA and others not only because it was a package of more than 160 bills put together to form a single bill more than 1,300 pages long, but also because it was fast-tracked through the Senate earlier this year and then positioned for a final House vote without the consideration of House members on more than 70 bills in the package.

“AMA members played a significant role in the defeat of this bill,” said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. “We asked all AMA members, off-highway motorcyclists, ATV riders and everyone who supports responsible outdoor recreation to immediately contact their congressional representative and ask them to reject the bill. And people responded, flooding their lawmakers with requests to vote ‘no.’”

U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), a leading voice opposing the measure, agreed: “This bill was the poor product of a poor process, and it would have cut off reasonable access for a whole host of activities on our public lands. I think it’s correct to say that the defeat of this bill today was a victory for Americans who appreciate access, such as the millions of folks who enjoy responsible recreation on our public lands.

“This specific fight is certainly not over, but the grassroots lobbying so far has definitely helped our cause,” Bishop said.

Speaking on the House floor before the vote, U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) warned that the bill “bans recreational access to millions of acres of public land despite proponents claims that it will protect vast new land areas for the appreciation of Americans. Lands that citizens currently use for enjoyment will be barricaded from recreational vehicle use.”

Moreland noted that other land-access groups were also involved in fighting this measure, including Americans for Responsible Recreational Access, the BlueRibbon Coalition, the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Off-Road Business Association, the American Council of Snowmobile Associations and others.

The bill was written poorly, lumping together so many different proposals, Moreland said. Additionally, it would have unreasonably banned responsible motorized recreation on more than 2 million acres of public land by inappropriately designating it as Wilderness. The procedures used for fast-tracking the bill through the legislative process also violated the spirit of open and democratic government.

Moreland warned, however, that while the AMA is cautiously optimistic about the outcome of today’s vote, this bill, or one very similar to it, could re-emerge in another form soon. Riders must remain vigilant.

An easy way to stay on top of issues affecting motorcycling is to sign up for the AMA Government Relations Department’s Action E-list in the Rights section of www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com. That way you can be notified by e-mail when you can make a difference on important issues.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has promoted and protected the motorcycling lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycle organization with nearly 300,000 members, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition events than any other organization in the world. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

LYBURN, WV – Hatfield-McCoy Trails has opened an additional 175 miles of trails to Utility Type Vehicles, a growing segment of the off-road enthusiast market.

“By opening all of our blue, or more difficult, trails to UTVs, we now have almost 80 percent of our 500 miles of trails available for side-by-sides,” said John Fekete, HMT deputy executive director. “And more are coming.”

HMT’s green, or easiest, trails have always been open for UTVs.

Also, it won’t be long, Fekete said, until the entire Little Coal River System, except trails reserved for motorcycles, will be open to UTVs, including the black, or most difficult, trails on the system. Little Coal River is located about 20 miles south of Charleston, WV on US119.

UTVs are becoming more popular for off-roading, and “I really believe that these are going to take over the market,” Fekete said. “They are very user-friendly. They have a steering wheel, a roll cage and are more comfortable. Also, obviously, two people can ride.”

UTV use has been limited until now because of concerns over how the machines would fare on the narrower trails, steeper grades and sharper turns of the blue trails.

“After several months of watching how the riders were handling the trails, we decided to open the more difficult trails,” Fekete said. Also, he noted, HMT staff has been using UTVs for about five years without incident. “We’ve field-tested them.”

Another limitation has been the lack of federal rules governing UTVs. However HMT has created its own list of regulations, mirroring those for ATVs and anticipating what eventual federal rules may cover, such as required labels, rider limitations and safety requirements.

“We feel we are leading the way for the rules and regulations for the UTV/side-by-side machines,” Fekete said.

The new HMT regulations are available online at www.trailsheaven.com.

The Hatfield-McCoy Trial System was created by the West Virginia Legislature to generate economic development through tourism in nine southern West Virginia counties. It currently operates six systems with more than 500 miles of trails. Each system is open 365 days a year to ATVs, dirt bikes, select utility vehicles (UTVs), mountain bikes, horses, and hikers. Many of the trail systems also offer community connecting trails that allow visitors to access “ATV-friendly towns” to experience the charm of southern West Virginia.